Patty molding device



5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1949 Jzvefz 07..

/faii @2% Nov. 14, 1950 Filed March 19, 1949 H. H. HOLLY 2,530,062

PATTY MoLDIN DVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 14, 1950 H. H. HOLLY PATTY MOLDINQ DEvrcE Filed March, 19, 1949l Nov. 14, 1950 H. H. HOLLY PATTY lMomma; DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 19, 1949 AAAAAAAAAA AlAAnAAA Patented Nov. 1,4, 1950 UNITED PATTY MOLDING DEVICEV Harry H. Holly, Chicago, Ill., assigner to` Holly Molding Devices, Inc., a corporation of Illinoisv Application March 19, 1949, Serial No. 82,420

14 Claims.

This invention relatesto aA device for'molding.

plastic materiaLsuch as ground meat, to form articles such as meat patties', and relates particularly to such a device having an improved apparatus `for shaping a portion of the plastic material to form a pattyl and to eject the'shaped patty from the kmolding device.`

One of the features of this invention is the provision of an improved'device for moldingarticlesfrom plastic material wherein there is provided a hopper for the plastic'material, a mold adapted to receive a portion of material from the hopper, a plurality of4 supporting sheets, such as paper sheets, arranged in a stack, apparatus for transferring the portion from the mold to the topmost sheet on this stack, a back stop and apparatus for pressing the portion of material between the topmost sheet and the back stop.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein the portionY of plastic material is transferred from the mold to a supporting member, and there is provided apparatus for moving at least one of the support;- ing member and back stop toward the other to press'said portionv therebetween, a single actuating, member operatively, engaging both the transferring apparatus and. the moving apparatus, and a timing` device provided for operating theactuating member to actuate iirst the transferring apparatus and then the moving appara, tus.

A further featureof the invention is the provision of such a device wherein a slide plate having a mold opening is provided with the plastic material being forced into the opening and held therein together with means for moving the slide plate to a position where the mold opening is above the supporting member, and there is provided a knock-out member arranged above the opening together with apparatus for operating the knock-out member to remove the portion from the mold opening where it fallsY onto the supporting member, and apparatus for returning the slide plate to its first position together with apparatus for raising theV supporting memberv to press the portion between the supporting memberl and said part of the mold plate to adhere said portion to a conveyor means that forms a part of said back stop.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description Vtaken-in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of one embodiment of the-device o'this invention with a side plate removed at the bottom thereof to expose, portions of the driving mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan view. of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially.` along line 3 3-of Fig. .2.

Fig. 4 is avertical section taken substantially. along line -dof Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along line .ri-5.0i Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantial y along line 6 6 of Fig. l.

Fig. '7 is a section. taken substantially along line I--l of Fig. 1.

The molding deviceshown and described herein may be usedfor-molding smallarticles of any plastic material, but is particularly adaptable for molding wet, adhesive plastic material such` as v. ground meat.v Thedevice may be-usedf in mold-f ing hamburger or. pork-sausage patties, but any. kind of ground meat or simian material can be used in the device.

The molding device shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a hopper andl feed por-Y tion A, a bottom portion B, housing the-driving mechanism, a gear case C mounted-on the bottom portion B- and arranged at one side ofl the hopper and feed portion A, anda molding andtransfer portion D'located.- on the'loottomv portion-B- and iny frontof thehopper and feed portion A.

The hopper and feed portion A comprisesa.y hopper I0 adapted to contain a relatively large quantity of plastic material, such as ground` meat, Ahaving a bottom opening Ia, with the.v hopper being mounted on a-supportingplate I I: which in turn is-.heldVv on a base I2 by wing bolts; I3` engaging earsy Ic locatedat the bottompf the hopper ID. The supporting plateY Il and-base- I2 have their central. portionsf spaced fromr eachother" to provideroom for a slide plate I4 ar` ranged therebetween. This-space isprovidedbv raised'sideportions IZafonathe base andfon whichy the supporting platev I'I f rests; The. Slide; plate Ill"v has ends extending considerable.distances beyond thecorrespondingzends oftheplate II and?, base I2.

The hopper I0, supporting plate izl and base I2 may be easily assembled andi disassembled' for cleaning. In order to-insure the'properpofsitioning of these members there are provided ae pair of spaced posts |217` engaging holes in the*4 side portions I2a, supporting plate-v IIA andhop-v per I0.

The slidev plate Ill'y is provided with a mold: opening Illa fory receiving plastic materialv that. is forced. from the 'hopper throughthexhoppen' opening Illa. As shown in Fig. 3, the mold opening |4a is an opening in an annular plate I5 held in the slide plate I 4. The slide plate I4 serves not only as a mold but also as a part of the transferring apparatus for transferring a portion of plastic material from the mold. One end |417 of the slide plate also -serves as one part of a back stop whose function will be described hereinafter.

The sides of the hopper I are provided at two opposite sides thereof with rounded portions IbI each having the shape of a section of a cylinder. These rounded portions are located adjacent the bottom of the hopper I0 and on opposite sides of the hopper opening Illa. Located within the mold I0 are a pair of rotatable axles I6, IEa and I6b arranged substantially parallel to each other and above and on opposite sides of the hopper opening Illa. Mounted on each axle Ia and |612 is a feeder I1 with these feeders being rotatable with the axles Ilia and IBb. Each feeder is provided with a ram portion |1a located on the periphery of the feeder. Each ram portion comprises a flat section that substantially coincides with the radiusY of a feeder I1. The outer surface of each feeder is substantially circular for a distance greater than 180 beginning at the base of the ram portion 1a. The surface opposite the ram portion |1a extends away from the center of the feeder and is curved to provide a protuberance I1b. As shown in Fig. l, this protuberance is located within a rounded portion Illb when the feeder is in position with the ram portions I1a at substantially its greatest distance from the hopper opening Illa.

The bottom portion B of the molding device houses the major portion of the driving mechanism. This bottom portion is provided with a casing I8 including a bottom plate Ia. Mounted on this bottom plate is a motor I9 having a shaft |911 connected through a flexible coupling to the shaft of a gear reducer 2|. This gear reducer is mounted on a support 22 positioned on the bottom plate Ia and also serves to support the motor I9.

The gear reducer 2| is provided with a shaft 21a to which is attached a drive member 23 that is rotated by rotation of the shaft 2 Ia. One end of the drive member 23 is rotatably attached to one lend of an arm 24. The other end of the arm 24 is rotatably attached at substantially the midpoint of a second arm 25. This second arm has one end rotatably attached to a bracket |817 that is mounted on the bottom plate Ia of the casing I8. lThe other end of this arm 25 is rotatably attached to one end of a third arm 26. The opposite end of the third arm 26 is provided with a notched portion 26a on the bottom thereof which rests on and is in engagement with a bolt 21 located adjacent the bottom of a downwardly extending bracket 28 attached to the rear end of the slide plate I4. The third arm 26, which extends through an opening |8c in the casing I8, is provided with the notched portion 26a in order that a lost motion connection is provided between the third arm 26 and the slide plate I4.

The end of the gear reducer shaft 2| a opposite the end on which the drive member 23 is mounted has attached thereto a rotatable means such as a generally circular cam plate 29. This cam plate is provided with a depression such as a relatively deep notch 29a on one portion of vits periphery and a raised portion 29h on another part of the periphery spaced less than 180 from the notch 29a. The raised portion 2gb has smoothly inclined sides. and a top ofanarcuate.

`3022 toward each other.

shape blending into these sides. There is pr'- vided a linkage member 36 formed of two legs 30a and 30h having one end of each rotatably attached together and the opposite end of one leg 30a rotatably attached to the cam plate 29 at a point adjacent the botton of the notch 29a. The opposite end of the other leg 30D extends up into the gear case C. The two legs 39a and 30h of the linkage member 30 are, urged to gether by a pair of relatively heavy coil springs 3| arranged substantially parallel to each other and having their ends attached to spaced points on the legs 30a and 30h. Other types of urging means may of course be employed if desired. In these cases the springs are resistingly deformable under force. Means are provided for limiting the extent of movement of the legs 30a and As shown in Fig. 4, this limiting means comprises a stop member in the form of a bar 32 attached to one leg 30h as by welding or the like and extending to a point where its other end is abutted by the other leg 30a.

The gear case C is provided at one side of the hopper I. This gear case comprises aremov-v able housing 33 that is spaced from the hopper I0. The axles i6, |6a and Ilb extend through the side of the hopper I0 and into the housing 33. Each axle is separable at a point between the hopper Ill and housing 33 and is held together by an annular connector 34. There is provided a first gear 35 within the housing 33 and mounted for rotation on an axle |6a. This first gear 35 is located adjacent the wall of the housing that is adjacent the hopper IU. Also within the housing, there is provided a second gear 36 mounted on the other axle |627 for rotation therewith. The first gear 35 mesheswith the second gear 36 and the first gear has a circumference that is considerably greater than the circumference of the second gear. In the embodiment shown, the circumference of the rst gear 35 is approximately twice the circumference of the second gear 36. Mounted on the same axle IEb which holds the second gear 3E is a third gear This third gear is positioned adjacent the side of the housing that is furthest from the hopper I0. The third gear 31, which has a diameter larger than that of the second gear 36,.

meshes with a fourth gear 38 that is of substantially the same diameteras that o'ffthe thirdgear 31. This fourth gear 38 is mountedon the axle |6a which holds the first gear v35. This fourth gear, 33 is. rigidly fixed on the axle IIa for rotation therewith.

The first gear 35 is provided with an annular collar 39 through which the axle ISa extends,

When the slide plate I4 is moved to a position.

so that the opening Illa is beneath the hopper opening Illa, the mold opening is Ifilled with the plasticv material from the hopper IS. The slide plate is then moved to the position shown in the drawings. In order to remove rthe portion Vof plastic material from within the mold opening |411, there isY provided ya transferring apparatus. As,r shown, this apparatus comprises aY knock-out asados@ member 4I of'substantially circularshape normally positioned over the mold opening I4a, as;

This arm includes a horizontal portion tothe end.

of which the knockout member 4I is attached yand a vertical portion extending downwardly at the side of the slide plate I4. The lower end of the arm is provided with a horizontal portion 43a. This portion is attached as by means of a bolt 44a to a downwardly extending, substantially'square leg 45 extending through an opening I8d. in the top of the casing I8. This leg 45 serves to guide the vertical movement of the arm 43 and the attached knock-out member 4I. The arm 43 and knock-out member are urged in a downward direction by a resilient means such as coil spring 46 attached to the outer end of the arm 43 at a point between the knock-out member'4I and the leg 45. This spring has its other end attached to the top of the casing I8.

Immediately beneath the knock-out member 4I there is located a platform 48 upon whichis positioned a stack 49 of sheets of paper. This platform and the paper thereon serves as a supporting member for the portion of plastic material that is removed from the mold opening I4a.

At substantially the midpoint of the outer edge of the platform 48, there is attached a downwardly extending rod member 50 of circular cross-section. This rod member extends through an opening in the top of the casing I8 and has its bottom end slidably and rotatably heldby a guide I mounted on the bottom plate I8a of the casing I8. The engagement of the rod member 5I) with the guide member 5I and the top of the casing I8 insures movement of the platform 48 in a substantially vertical path. At one outer corner of thev platform 48 there is'provided a rod member 52 held in an open-ended slot 48a in this corner of the platform. This rod member extends down through a slot If in the casing I8 andfhas its bottom end positioned on the bottom plate I 8a of the casing I8. This rod member 52 serves as a guide to prevent turning of the platform 48 around the rst rod member 50. portion of the rod member 52 is provided With a coil spring 53 extending from the rod member to the guide 5I. This spring serves to hold the rod member 52 in engagement with the platform slot` 48a'to prevent rotation of the platform on its supporting rod 5i). In this position the rod member 52 is located at the inner end of the casing slot I8f. The platform 48 is also provided with a second slot 43h on the opposite edge of the platform. The two slots 48a and 48h and the-rod 50 are substantially aligned as shown in Fig. 7. The rod member 52 engaging the slot 48a serves with the rod member 50 to cause movement of the platform in a vertical path. The rodmember 52 may be disengaged from theslot 48a by pressing outwardly on the top end ofthe rod4 member 52. After the rod member has become disengaged from the slot 48a, the platform may be turned on the rod member approximately 18,0. until the rod member 52: engages the'oppo- The bottom site slot 48h. In this positionV the platform 48 is' held in an outwardly extending position so that the stack 49 of paper may be placed on the platform.

In` order to cause the platform 43 to move in a vertical path and toward the slide plate. I4, there is provided a lever such as an arm 54 having a horizontal portion extending beneath the platform, a vertical portion extendingv upwardly .beside the platform and an outwardly extending horizontal portion 54a located in contact with the adjacent side of the horizontal portion 43d of the arm 43 and extending therebeyond. There is provided a screw 55 extending through the arm portion 54a and held in thev other arm portion 43a. The arm portion 54a is provided with a slot 54h extending around the screw 55 and through the bottom surface of the arm portion 54a. This slot engages the screw 55 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5, but permits arm portion 43a, to drop out of engagement with the arm portion 54a.. The end of the arm 54 opposite the horizontal arm portion 54a is provided with a bracket 54C having a slot 54d embracing the rod member 50. At the top and bottom of the bracket there are provided a pair of annular rubber bumpers 54e, with the bracket 54o and bumpers 54e being freely slidable on the rod member 50. The bumpers serve to reduce noise and vibration in the apparatus and the bottom bumper 54e serves as a support for the corresponding end of arm 54.

The arm 54 is :urged downwardly by means of a resilient means such as a spring 58 having one end attached to the arm portion 54a at a point adjacent the outer end thereof and the other end attached to a rod 59 fastened to the bottom plate i3d of the casing I8. The extreme end of the arm portion 54a normally abuts against a button Eil of rubber or other resilient.'

member 6I attached to the arm portion 43a, by-l means of a screw bolt 44D. This actuating member 6I, as shown, is a rod that is slidably heldv in an enlarged porti-on I8e of the casing I8 andl is vertically movable therein. The bottom of the actuating member 6I rests against the periphery` of the cam plate 29.

The cam plate, with notch 29a and raised portion 29h, serves as a timing device for operating the actuating member 6I.

In order to remove the molded article, such as a ground meat patty, from the device there is provided a removing apparatus which includes a conveyor means such as a flexible transfer sheet 52 which may be of cloth impregnated with wax o-r other sealing and non-absorbent material, and is preferably similar to that shown in my prior Patent 2,338,939, One end of this sheet is held by means of a removable pin 63 extending through a loop 62a provided in the one end ofthe sheet 62. This removable pin 63 is held in a bracket 64 having a top portion located above the slide plate 4 and'provided with a downwardly extending leg l64a. located at one side of the slide plate I4 and attached to the top surface of the casing I8. portion ofthe bracket is provided with al cutout portion 54D to provide room for the loopfBZa'a'nd the part of the pin 63 held within the loop. :The` flexible; sheetl 52. and the part of. the slide plate" As shown, the top I4 which isV adjacentthereto and which will be over the platform 48 when the mold plate has moved furthest to; the right (Fig. l) serves as a back stop.

The flexible sheet 62 extends from the pin 63 around the adjacent end of the slide plate I4. When the slide plate is in the position shown in the drawings, this end of the sheet 52 passes around the adjacent end of the slide plate I4. IThis end of the sheet 62 is provided with a reinforcing member 62h. Extending from the lower end of the sheet 52 are a pair of coil springs 65 with each spring being attached adjacent a corner of the sheet 62. Each of these springs 65 extends back along the slide plate I4 and has the other end removably held on a post 65. Each post 66 is mounted on one of the brackets Ic of the hopper I3. When the slide plate I4 is in the position shown in the drawings, the spring 55 will be extended as Shown. When the slide plate is moved toward the mold I to bring the mold opening I4a. -under the hopper opening Ia, the spring 65 will pull the sheet 62 back to a position where it covers the end of the slide plate that is directly above the platform 48.

The device is so proportioned that when the slide plate is in the position shown in the drawings, the feeders I1 are turned back to a position where the ram portions Ila. are furthest from the mold opening Ia and the arms 24, 25 and 26 have been moved to the left as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the actuating member 6I is just ready to drop down in the notch 29a, on further movement of the cam plate 29 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4.

In operating the device the hopper I0 is filled with a plastic material such as ground meat. The electrical circuit to the motor I9 is closed by operating the switch 51. The motor I 9 causes the cam plate 29 to operate counterclockwise (Fig. 4) thus dropping the actuating member 6I into the notch 29a. The dropping of the actuating member causes the knock-out member 4I to be pulled sharply downwardly under the urging of spring 46. VThe knock-out member enters the mold opening I4a and dislodges the portion of plastic material that is held therein, Further movenient of the cam plate 29 causes the actuating member 5I to raise the knock-out member 4I from the mold opening. This portion of plastic material falls onto the topmost sheet of paper of the stack 49. Further operation of the motor I9 rotates the drive member 23 and urges arms 24, and 25 to the right as shown in Fig. 3. Because of the provision of the notch 25a in the outer end of arm 23, there is a period during which the slide plate 49 is not moved. This period is sucient for the knock-out member 4l to be raised from the mold opening Ma. As the drive member 23 continues to rotate, the arms, 24, 25 and 26 are forced rearwardly and pull the slide plate rearwardly until the drive member 23 is in a position substantially diametrically opposite that shown in Fig. 3 andthe mold opening I4a is in communication with the hopper opening IOa. v

During this operation of the motor, the cam plate 29 is rotated so that the end of the leg 39a of the linkage member 3l! that is attached to the cam plate is moved downwardly. This downward movement applies tension to the springs 3IY and thus to the lever 40 to cause rotation of thej lever in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 4. The rotation ofthe lever 40 causes rothe back stop so that it adheres thereto.

tation of the rst gear' 35 to which the lever isV operatively attached. The rotation of the first gear 35 causes rotation of the second gear 36 with which the first gear 35 is in meshing engagement. As the second gear 36 is considerably smaller than the first gear 35, the second gear operates at a faster rate and through a greater arc than does the first gear 35. The rotation of the second gear 36 causes rotation of the meshing third and fourth gears 31 and 38, respectively. As gears 35 and 3l are rigidly mounted on shaft I5b and gear 33 is mounted on its shaft 16a, these movements of the gears cause the feeders II to be rotated so that the ram portions I 'Ia move inwardly toward each other and downwardly toward the mold opening Ilia. When they movement of the feeders is relatively free, as happens when only a small supply of plastic material is in the hopper I6, the feeders are in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 at the' end of their movement. Because of the provision of the springs 3|, however, additional resistance caused by large and compact supplies of plastic material, or other factors, Will cause the feeders to move to a position short of that shown by these dotted lines. Sufficient pressure is applied to the plastic material at all times, however, ir-

respective of the amount of resistance encountered. The springs are of such strength to in-V sure this pressure being applied. The feeders I'I will be turned to their extreme inward position when the end of the leg 33a that is attached to the cam plate 29 is in a position approximately diametrically opposite to that shown in Fig. 4. Further operation of the cam plate causes the feeders to be returned to their initial position. This returning is insured by the leg 30a, abutting against the adjacent end of the bar 32 which is attached to the opposite leg 35o.

After the portion of plastic material has been forcibly ejected from the mold opening I4al by the action of the knock-out member 4I, the portion of material is pressed against the plate portion Illb and the sheet 62 that form a part of This adherence is caused by pressure of the platform 48 through the stack 49 of paper. In order to accomplish thisl the platform 48 is raised until the portion is pressed between the stack of paper and the exible sheet 62, which is now backed up by the adjacent end of the slide plate I4. This adjacent end and the sheet 62 thus form a back= stop against which the portion of plastic mate-l' rial is pressed. In order to bring about this pres-v sure the rotation of the cam plate 29 causes the actuating member 6I to be forced upwardly.

This upward movement of the actuating mem-l ber 6I is caused by engagement of the bottom of l the actuating member with the raised portion 291) arm portion 43a. As the arm 54 moves upwardly,-

the outer end thereof, which bears against the bottom of the platform 48 through the top bumper 54e, rotates around the screw 55 and raises the platform 43 so that the portion of plastic material is pressed between the stack 49 of paper and the bottom ofthe slide plate I4. Although the thickness of the stack 49 of paper will vary,

the pressure onthe portion of the material will be constant becausev of the provision of the spring Y 58. This spring is of such a strength that when the pressure on the portion of the material begins to exceed a predetermined maximum the spring will stretch and permit the end portion 54a of the arm 54 to raise from the rubber button 6D. During this action the portion of material is usually but not necessarily flattened. It may be flattened to any desired degree by regulating the strength of spring 58. This principal reason for pressing the portion of plastic material against the sheet 62 is to cause the portion to adhere thereto so that it can be removed from the apparatus.

In each downward and upward movement of the actuating member (il caused by its engagement with the notch 29a and the raised portion 29h, respectively, the screw 55 will disengage and engage the slot 54h. This slot permits the arm portion 43a to fall below the arm portion 54a when the knock-out portion 4I is being operated.

Each time the slide plate I4 moves to the right (Fig. 3) preparatory to raising the platform 48, the springs 65 cause the flexible sheet 62 to be drawn over vthe end of the plate I4 adjacent the flexible sheet. Thus by the time the portion of material has been raised by the platform to the slide plate I4, the flexible sheet 62 is in position to receive the portion of material. This portion of material is suiiiciently adhesive, especially when the material is ground meat, to adhere to the flexible sheet 62 and also the top most sheet of paper in the stack v49 of paper. This topmost sheet remains adhered to the portion of material when the platform 43 is lowered. Subsequent movement of the slide plate I4 to the left (Fig. 3) causes the flexible sheet 62 to be withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 3. As the sheet 62 is pulled around its end of the slide plate I4, the adhered patty is dislodged from the sheet 62. The patty is thus withdrawn from on top of the stack 48 `and falls onto a support (not shown) with the adhered sheet of paper still attached thereto. With this arrangement, operation of the device causes patties of plastic material such as ground meat to be stacked one on top of the other with each portion being separated by a sheet of paper.

The device is so arranged that the platform 48 is held in raised position until the portion of material and the adhered sheet of paper is almost completely withdrawn from the top of the stack 49 oi paper. This operation is provided for by making the raised portion 29D of the cam plate 29 of relatively great length as shown, for eX- ample. in Fig. 4. Such operation is of great advantage as it prevents accidental dislodgement of the portion of material from the flexible sheet 62 with subsequent fouling of the device.

In order that the paper sheets may be withdrawn easily from the stack 49, each sheet is provided with two slits 49a extending substantially parallel to each other and outwardly to the edge of the paper that is nearest the center of the-device. These slits are substantially parallel to the direction of motion of the slide plate I4 and the flexible sheets 62. The stack of paper is held in position by means of a pair of bolts 68, with each bolt engaging openings at the inner end of aligned slits 49a on the stack of paper. These bolts are sunicient to prevent the stack of paper from becoming accidentally dislodged but permits each sheet of paper to be successively withdrawn from the stack beginning with the topmost sheet.

As can be seen from the above description, the device of this invention operates continuously to mold patties vof plastic material. After these 10 f patties are molded they are ejected from the device in such a manner as to be arranged in a stack at the side of the device. This device may be used for molding any plastic material, but is particularly adapted for molding and shaping patties of ground meat such as hamburger. As all the operating parts of the device are interrelated, the device is simple to construct so that the proper timing is achieved. Thus the mold opening Ida is always in communication with the hopper opening Illa during the time when the feeders il are forcing plastic material out the opening Illa. The mold opening I4a is always under the knockout member 4I during engagement of the actuating 'member 6I with the notch 29a in the cam plate 29. Similarly, the slide plate I4 is at rest with the mold opening |'4a in communication with the hopper opening Illa during the time the portion of plastic material is being pressed between the stack 49 of paper and the back stop which includes the flexible sheet 62.

This application is related to my copending -application Serial No. 82,419, iiled March 19, 1949, which claims certain elements of the device described herein.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made ywithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for molding a patty from plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a mold adapted to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper; a supporting member adjacent the mold; apparatus adjacent the mold for transferring said portion from the mold to the supporting member; a back stop adjacent the supporting member; apparatus providing relative movement between the supporting member and back stop with said portion therebetween; a single actuating member operatively engaging both the transferring apparatus and the moving apparatus; and apparatus including a timing device for operating the actuating member to actuate said transferringapparatus and then again operating the actuating member to actuate said moving apparatus.

2. A device for molding a patty from plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a mold adapted to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper; a supporting member adjacent the mold; Vapparatus adjacent the mold for transferring said portion from the mold to the supporting member; a back stop adjacent the supporting member; apparatus providing relative movement between the supporting member and back stop with saidportion therebetween; asingle actuating member operatively engaging both the transferring apparatus and the moving apparatus and movable in one direction to operate the transferring apparatus and in the opposite direction to operate the moving apparatus; and apparatus including a timing device operatively connected to the actuating member for first moving the actuating member in said one direction and then in said opposite direction.

3. A device for molding a patty from plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a mold adapted to receive a portion of .plastic material from said hopper;

importing member adiacent the mold; appas adiecent Ithe mold for transferring said "mv from the irold to the supporting member;l nt means urging said transferring appar.-ts from a non-operative to an operative position for causing scid transferring: a back stop adiacent the suppo'ting member; apparatus providng relative movement between the supporting member and back stop with said portion therebetween: a single actuating member operatively engaging both the transferring apparatus and the moving apparatus sa id actuating member being movable in oneV direction to release the transferring apparatusY for said movement under the urging of said resilient means and being movable in the opposite direction to operate said moving apparatus: and apparatus including a timing device operatively connected to the actuating member for first moving the actuating member in said one Vdirection and then in said opposite direction.

4. A device for molding a patty from plastic material. said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a mold adapted to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper; a'supporting member adjacent the mold; apparatus adiacent the Vmold for transferring said portion from the mold to the supporting member; resilient means urging said transferring apparatus'from a non-operative to an operative position for causing said transferring; a back stop adiacent the supporting member; apparatus providing relative movement between'the supporting member and back stop with said nortion therebetween; a single actuating' member operatively engaging both the transferring apparatus andthe moving apparatus, said actuating member being movable in one direction to release the transferring apparatus for said movement under theV urging of said resilient means and being movable in the oppositeY direction to operate said moving apparatus; a generally circular cam plate engaging one end of said actuating member for holding the actuating member against the urging of said resilient means, said cam plate having a depression in one part of its periphery to release the actuating member for movement in Vsaid one direction and a raised portion in another nart of said periphery for then moving said actuating member in said other direction; and means operably associated with the cam plate for rotating said cam plate.

5. A device for molding a patty from a plastic material. said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold having an opening therethrough adapted to communicate with said hopper to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper; a supporting member spaced from the hopper; apparatus for moving the mold away from said hopper to a position where said opening is over said supporting member and back again: apparatus adjacent the supporting member for transferring said portion from the mold to the supporting member including a knock-out member arranged in position above said opening when the opening is over the supporting member; resilient means urging said knock-out member from said position into engagement with said portion for removing the portion from said opening and causing the portion to fall onto the supporting member; a back stop positioned above said supporting member when said portion is arranged on the supporting member; apparatus for moving at least one of the supporting members and back stop toward the other with said portion therebetween; a single' actuating member operatively engaging both the transferring apparatus and the moving apparatus, said actuating member being movable in onev direction to release the transferring apparatus for said movement under the urging of said resilient means and being movable in the oppositeY direction to operate said moving apparatus; and apparatus including va timing device for first moving the actuating member in said one direction and then in said opposite direction,

6. Apparatus for molding a patty from a plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold having an opening therethrough adapted to communicatev With said hopper to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper; a supporting member spaced from the hopper; a lever beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus for moving the mold away from said hopper to a position where said opening is over said supporting member and back again; apparatus adjacent the supporting member for transferring said portion from the mold to the supporting member including a knock-out member arranged in position above said opening when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever extending from said knock-out member and having an end arranged adjacent'said end of the supporting member lever; resilient means urging said knock-out memberfrom said position into engagement with said portion for removing the portion from said opening and causing the portion to fall onto the supporting member; a back stop positioned above said supporting member when said portion is arranged on the supporting member; apparatus providing relative movement between the supporting member and back stop with said portion therebetween; a single actuating member operatively engaging said ends of said levers, said actuating member being movable in one direction to release the transferring apparatus for said movement under the urging of said resilient means and being movable in the opposite direction to operate said moving apparatus; a generally circular cam plate engaging one end of said actuating member forholding the actuating member against the urging of said resilient means, said cam plate having a depression in one part of its periphery to release the actuating member for movement in said one direction and a raised portion in another part of said periphery for moving said actuating member in said other direction; and means operably associated with the cam plate for rotating said cam plate.

'7. A device for molding a patty from a plastic material said devicecomprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold having an opening therethrough adapted to communicate with said hopper to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper through the top of said opening and retain the material in said opening; a supporting member spaced from the hopper; a lever beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus operatively connected to the mold for moving the mold opening away from said hopper to a position Where said opening is directly above said supporting member and back again; a knock-out member normally arranged in position above said opening when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever extending from the knock-out member and having an end arranged adjacent said end of the supporting member lever; resilient means urging said knock-out member downwardly from said posi- .tion above the opening into engagement with said portion within the opening for removing said portion from the opening and causing the portion to fall onto the supporting member; apparatus operably associated with the mold for moving saidimold opening from over said supporting member; aback stop positioned above said supporting member when said portion is arranged on the supporting member; a single actuating member operatively engaging both the knock-out lever and the supporting member lever, said actuating member normally holding said knock-out member above the path of movement of the mold against the urging of said resilient means and holding the supporting member spaced below said path; means for lowering the actuating mel-;- ber to permit said engagement of the knock-out member with said portion under the urging of said resilient means and for again raising sai-d knock-out member to said normal position; and means for subsequently raising said actuating member above its normal position to raise the supporting member and press said portion between the supporting member and the back stop.

8. A device for molding a p-atty from a plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold having an opening therethrough adapted to communicate with said hopper to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper through the top of said opening and retain the material in said opening; a supporting member spaced from the hopper; a lever beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus operatively connected to the mold for moving the mold opening away from said hopper to a position where said opening is directly abo-ve said supporting member and back again; a knock-out member normally arranged in .position above said openingr when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever eX- tending from the knock-out member and having an end arranged adjacent said end of the supporting member lever; resilient means urging said knock-out member downwardly from said positionabove the opening into engagement with said portion within the opening for removing said portion from the opening and causing the portion to fall onto the supporting member; apparatus operably associated with the mold for moving said mold opening from over said supporting member; a back stop positioned above said supporting member when said ,portion .is `arranged on the supporting member; a single actuating member operatively engaging both the knock-out lever and the supporting member lever, said actuating member normally holding said knock-out member above the path of movement of the-mold against the urging of said resilient 'means and holding the supporting member spaced lbelow said path; and a single rotatable means engaging said actuating member and having a depressed portion for lowering the actuatingmember to permit said engagement of the knock-out member with said portion under the urging of saidresilient means and for again raising said knock-out member to said normal position; and having a raised portion for subsequently raising said actuating member above its normal position to raise the supporting member and press said portion between the supporting member and the back stop.

9. A devioerfor molding a patty from a plastic i material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold having .an opening therethrough adapted to communicate with said hopper to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper through the top of said opening and retain the material in said opening; a supporting member spaced from the hopper; a lever beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus operatively connected to the mold 'for moving the mold opening away from said hopper to a position where said opening is directly above said supporting member and back again; a knock-out member normally arranged in position above said opening when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever extending from the knock-out member and having an end arranged adjacent said end of the supporting member lever; resilient means urging said knockout member downwardly from said posiiton above the opening into engagement withsaid portion within the opening for removing said portion from the opening and causing the portion to fall onto the supporting member; apparatus operably associated with the mold for moving said mold opening from over said supporting member; a back stop positioned above said -supporting member when said portion is arranged on the supporting member; a single actuating member operatively engaging both the knock-out lever and the supporting member lever, said actuating member normally holding said knock-out member above the path of movement of the mold against the urging of said resilient means and holding the supporting member spaced below said path; and a generally circular cam plate engaging the bottom of said actuating member and having a depressed portion for lowering the actuating member to permit said engagement of the knock-out member with said portion under the urging of said resilient means and for again raising said knock-out member to said normal position, and having a raised portion for subsequently raising said actuating member above its normal position to raise the supporting member and press said portion between the supporting member and the back stop.

l0. A device for molding a patty from a plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper lor the plastic material; a movable mold having an opening therethrough adapted to communicate with said hopper to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper through the top of said opening and retain the material in said opening; a supporting member spaced from the hopper; a lever beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus operatively connected to the mold for moving the mold plate opening away from said hopper to a position where said opening ris directly above said supporting member and back again; a knock-out member normally arranged in position above said opening when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever extending from the knock-out member and having an end arranged adjacent said end of the supporting member lever; resilient means urging said knock-out member downwardly from said position above the opening into engagement with said portion within the opening for removing said portion from the opening and causingthe portion to fall onto .the supporting member; apparatus operably associated with the mold for moving said mold plate opening from over said supporting member `to a position for again receiving fa portion of material from said hopper, said mold plate having a portion thereof located over said supporting member when the mold opening is in said material-receiving position; a single actuating member operatively engaging both the knock-out lever and the supporting member lever, said actuating member normally holding said knock-out member above the path of movement of the mold plate against the urging of said resilient means and holding the supporting member spaced below said path; means for lowering the actuating member to permit said engagement of the knock-out member with said portion under the urging of said resilient means and for again raising said knock-out member to said normal position; and means operably associated with the actuating member for subsequently raising said actuating member above its normal position to raise the supporting member toward the portion of mold plate that is thereover and press said portion therebetween.

11. A device for molding a patty from a plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold having an lopening therethrough adapted to communicate with said hopper to receive a portion or" plastic material from said hopper through the top'oi said opening and retain the material in said opening; a supporting member spaced from the hopper; a lever beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus operatively connected to the mold for moving the mold opening away from said hopper to a position where said opening is directly above said supporting member and back again; a l;

knock-out member normally arranged in position above said opening when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever extending from the knock-out member and having an end arranged adjacent said end of the supporting member lever; said levers being releasably attached together to permit separation oi said levers only when the knock-out lever is moved downwardly resilient means urging said knock-out member downwardly from said position above the opening into engagement with said portion within the opening for removing said portion from the opening and causing the portion to fall onto the supporting member; apparatus operably associated with the mold for moving said mold opening from over said supporting member; a back stop positioned above said supporting member when said portion is arranged on the supporting member; a single actuating member attached to the knock-out lever and extending downwardly therefrom; means for lowering the actuating member to permit said engagement of the knockout member with said portion under the urging of said resilient means and for again raising said knock-out member to said normal position; and means operably associated with the actuating member kfor subsequently raising said actuating member above its normal position to raise the supporting member and press said portion between the supporting member and the back stop.

l2. A device for molding a patty from a plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold plate having an opening therethrough adapted to communicate with said hopper to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper through the top of said opening and retain the material in said opening; a supporting member spaced from the hopper; a lever arranged beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus operatively coni nected to the mold for moving the mold plate opening away from said hopper to a position where said opening is directly above said sup'- porting member and back again; a knock-out member normally arranged in position above said opening when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever extending from the knockout member and having an end arranged adjacent to said end of the supporting member lever, said levers being releasably attached together to permit separation of said levers only when the knock-out lever is moved downward, the outer end of said supporting member lever extending beyond the other lever; resilient means urging said knockout member downwardly from said position above the opening into engagement with said portion within the opening for causing the portion to iall onto the supporting member; apparatus for moving said mold opening from over said supporting member to a position for again receiving a portion of material from said hopper, said mold plate having a portion thereof located over said supporting member when the mold opening is in material-receiving position; a single actuating member attached to the knock-Y out lever and extending downwardly therefrom, said actuating member normally holding said knock-out member above the mold plate against the urging of said resilient means and permitting the supporting member to be spaced below said path; second resilient means attached to the end of the supporting member lever beyond the point of attachment of said supporting member lever and the knock-out lever and urging the support- Iing member lever downwardly; a generally circular cam plate engaging the bottom of said actuating member and having a depressed portion for periodically lowering the actuating member to permit said engagement of the knock-out member with said portion under the urging of said first resilient means, and having a raised portion for subsequently and periodically raising said actuating member above its normal position toward the portion of mold plate that is thereover and flatten said plastic material portion; means for rotating said cam plate; and means supporting the ends of said supporting member lever on opposite sides of said resilient means to prevent lowering said lever when the actuating member is lowered.

13. A device for molding a patty from a plastic materialy said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold having an opening therethrough adapted to communicate with said hopper to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper through the top of said opening and retain the material in said opening; a supporting member having a plurality of supporting sheets arranged in a stack thereon and spaced from the hopper; a lever beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus operatively connected to the mold for moving the mold opening away from said hopper to a position where said opening is directly above said supporting member and back again; a knockout member normally arranged in position above said opening when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever extending from the knock-out member and having an end arranged adjacent said end of the supporting member lever; resilient means urging said knock-out member downwardly from said position above the opening into engagement with said portion within the opening for removing said portion from the opening and causing the portion to fall onto the topmost sheet of the supporting member; apparatus operably associated with the mold for moving said mold opening from over said supporting member; a back stop positioned above said supporting member when said portion is -arranged on the supporting member; a single actuating member operatively engaging both the knock-out lever and the supporting member lever, said actuating member normally holding said knock-out member above the path of movement of the mold against the urging of said resilient means and holding the supporting member spaced below said path; means for lowering the actuating member to permit said engagement of the knock-out member with said portion under the urging of said resilient means and for again raising said knock-out member to said normal position; means for subsequently raising said actuating member above its normal position to raise the topmost sheet of the supporting member and press said portion between the supporting member and the back stop; and means for ejecting said portion and said adhered sheet including a movable means forming a part of the back stop and to which said patty adheres.

14. A device for molding a patty from a plastic material, said device comprising: a hopper for the plastic material; a movable mold plate having an opening therethrough adapted to receive a portion of plastic material from said hopper through the top of said opening and retain the material in said opening; Ia supporting member spaced from the hopper and having a plurality of supporting sheets arranged thereon in a stack, said sheets being loosely retained on said supporting member for individual removal therefrom; a lever Iarranged beneath the supporting member and having an end portion extending outwardly therefrom; apparatus for moving the mold plate opening away from said hopper to a position where said opening is directly above said supporting member and back again; a knock-out member normally arranged in position above said opening when the opening is above the supporting member; a lever extending from the knockout member and having an end arranged adjacent to said end of the supporting member lever, said levers being releasably attached together to permit separation of said levers only when the knockout lever is moved downwardly, the outer end of the supporting member lever extending beyond the other lever; resilient means urging said knock-out member downwardly from said portion above the opening into engagement with said portion Within the opening for causing the portion to fall onto the topmost sheet on said supporting member; apparatus for moving said mold opening from over said supporting member to a position for again receiving a portion of material from said hopper, said mold plate having a portion thereof located over said supporting member when the mold opening is in material-receiving position and forming a part of a back stop; a single actuating member attached to the knockout lever and extending downwardly therefrom, said actuating member normally holding said knock-out member above the mold plate against the urging of said resilient means and permitting the supporting member to be spaced below said mold plate; second resilient means attached to' the end of the supporting member lever beyond the point of attachment of said supporting mem# ber lever and the knock-out lever and urging the supporting member lever downwardly; .a generally circular cam plate engaging the bottom of said actuating member and having a depressed portion for periodically lowering the actuating member to permit said engagement of the knockout member with said portion under the urging of said rst resilient means, and having a raised portion for subsequently and periodically raising said actuating member above its normal position toward the portion of mold plate that is thereover and press said portion therebetween, said second resilient means causing the end of said supporting member lever adjacent the supporting member to be raised upwardly to raise the member while retaining the outer end of the lever in fixed position until a predetermined pressure depending on the resistance of said resilient means has been applied to said portion of plastic material; means for ejecting said portion and said adhered sheet including a movable conveyor means forming a part of said back stop and to which said patty adheres; means for rotating said cam plate; and means supporting the ends of said supporting member lever on opposite sides of said second resilient means to prevent lowering of said lever when the actuating member is lowered.

HARRY H. HOLLY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Holly Jan. 11, 1944 Number 

